Southend-on-Sea

Southend-on-Sea's population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and marriage.

The population passed 170,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Southend-on-Sea increased by 8.4%, from about 160,000 to 174,000.

The addition of about 13,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Southend-on-Sea was home to, on average, 30 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it Eastof England's third-most densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Southend-on-Sea

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Southend-on-Sea increased by one year, from 39 to 40 years.

This urban area had a slightly higher average age than Eastof England and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 5,400 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by just over 700.

About 15% of people in Southend-on-Sea are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Southend-on-Sea by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Southend-on-Sea, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.7% to 11% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in three (33%) households had only one person, compared with 35% in 2001. The percentage of households in Southend-on-Sea, which comprised a married couple (with or without children), decreased from 32% to 30%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased faster here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.8% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Southend-on-Sea increased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Southend-on-Sea, Eastof England and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Southend-on-Sea

The number of people in Southend-on-Sea that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 30,000 in 2001 to about 55,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 19% to 32% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Southend-on-Sea that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 110,000 in 2001 to about 97,000 in 2011 (from 69% to 56%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 13,000 to about 14,000. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 8.3% to 7.8%.

Just over 3,300 people (1.2%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 2,000 in 2001 (1.9%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Southend-on-Sea increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Southend-on-Sea by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Southend-on-Sea

The percentage of Southend-on-Sea residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.0% to 6.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.6%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.9% in 2001. The percentage of Southend-on-Sea residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 90%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 6.9% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Southend-on-Sea that rented privately increased from 14% to 22% between the last two censuses.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 12%, while the percentage of Southend-on-Sea households that owned their home decreased from 72% to 65%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Southend-on-Sea increased by 7.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Southend-on-Sea, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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